Denver Metro, Colorado

Denver Metro lies along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The population of Denver proper is approximately 690,000, and the 10-county metropolitan area is home to approximately 2.8 million people. In 2016, U.S. News and World Report named Denver the best place to live in the United States.

Interesting Facts About Denver and Colorado

Denver has the highest percentage of college graduates about of any major U.S. city.

Denver International Airport (DEN) is twice the size of the island of Manhattan.

Denver's Colfax Avenue is the longest street in the country.

At 11,000 feet, the Eisenhower tunnel along I-70 is the highest total for transporting traffic on the planet.

Just off of I-70, west of Denver, you'll find the highest paved road on the continent. The road to Mt. Evans climbs to 14,258 feet above sea level.

There's good reason to talk about a Rocky Mountain High in the state. Three-fourths of all the land above 10,000 feet in the country lies within Colorado’s borders.

The Great Outdoors

The 14ers are a group of intrepid adventurers dedicated to scaling the 53 peaks in Colorado rising to elevations of 14,000 feet or more above sea level. Of course, you don’t have to be headed up a 14,000-ft peak to enjoy hiking in Colorado.

If you'd rather be sitting in a jeep riding on a mountain bike, there are other opportunities for outdoor adventures near Denver. The Denver Post identified the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area as offering the best mountain biking trail system along the Front Range. It is only one hour west of Denver. Here you can “pick your poison,” from steep granite outcrops to dynamic elevation changes on single tracks slicing through dense forests.

If offroading is your thing, you'll find a number of great trail systems within an hour or two of the city. For example, Boulder’s Switzerland Trail is one of the most popular spots in the metropolitan area. For another memorable adventure, take your 4x4 up the Kingston Peak Trail in Clear Creek County. The 10-mile trail features elevation changes ranging from 10-12,000 ft above sea level. Since this trail is above timberline, excellent views are a given. It's also a great escape from that occasional urban heat wave. So much so, in fact, that you’ll always want to be prepared for chilly and possibly windy conditions.

If you're not into offroading but still want to take in the magnificent mountain scenery, consider the trek up the Mount Evans Scenic Byway. There are numerous scenic overlooks and ample opportunities to see the mountain goats that inhabit the mountainsides.

Professional Sports

If you love professional sports, you’ll love Denver. In Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The MLB’s Colorado Rockies play home games at Coors Field, while the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL) play at the Pepsi Center. Denver also has a major league soccer franchise, the Colorado Rapids, and a pro rugby team, the Denver Stampede. Since 2006, the Denver Outlaws have played major league lacrosse here.

Beer and Wine Capital

Attend an event like June’s Taste of the West and discover why Denver is known as the beer and wine capital of the Mountain West. You’ll find numerous vineyards along the western slope of the rockies, although more vineyards and wineries are appearing along the Front Range every year. Coors, located in Golden, Colorado, is a major American brewery, and the state is home to literally dozens of craft breweries, many of them located in the greater Denver area.

Things to Do

To suggest that there are many things to do in the Denver area is the ultimate understatement. Trip Advisor lists almost 550 things to do in Denver. It also includes reviews for more than 2,800 restaurants. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that exploring Metro Denver could be a full-time job.

Concerts are that much more memorable in the open-air venue at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, located just 10 miles west of Denver in Red Rocks Park. Behind the stage, a massive disc-shaped outcropping creates a dramatic backdrop for any performance. The facility seats almost 10,000 people.

A visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens is the top-rated Denver activity on Trip Advisor. The gardens are located just west of York Street and east of Cheeseman Park. Relax as you take in the tranquility of the lily ponds. Get better acquainted with the plants indigenous to the Mile High City, or take in a summer concert at the outdoor amphitheater.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a great place to visit when the weather is less than ideal. The wide-ranging exhibits include informative ones about dinosaurs and fossils, ancient Egypt and the solar system. Although it is not uncommon to find clouds embracing the mountain peaks west of the Metro Denver area, it is true that the city itself boasts over 300 days of sunshine every year. In fact, on average, the sun is out more of the time than it is either in Miami or San Diego.

Shopping

Given the fact that Denver is the largest city within a 500-mile radius, it should come as no surprise that Denver Metro is a premier shopping destination. Shoppers revel in all the opportunities, ranging from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North to the ubiquitous downtown boutiques. Antique Row offers an amazing 18 blocks of antique shopping bliss. Window shopping at historic Larimer Square is another pleasure to savor. What began as Denver’s first city block is now a chic fashion district.

There are so many reasons to get excited about relocating to Denver Metro! I’d welcome the opportunity to speak further about all the area has to offer in terms of your own personal interests. Please contact Kathy Kittle Realtor HomeSmart Real Estate for personalized and professional Real Estate assistance.